India and Russia are revisiting an ambitious plan that could redefine missile technology in a world where speed and precision can decide the outcome of modern warfare. The two nations, after years of delays and uncertainties, are looking to revive the BrahMos-2 project- a next generation hypersonic missile designed to travel at blistering speeds and strike with unmatched accuracy. This missile, born from a long-standing defence partnership, is about staying ahead in a global race where cutting-edge tech defines strategic strength.
Old Allies, New Firepower: BrahMos-2
A powerful hypersonic weapon that could reach speeds of Mach 6 or even faster, India and Russia are once again in talks to jointly develop the BrahMos-II missile.
This project is expected to take cues from Russia’s Zircon missile, a cutting-edge weapon capable of nuclear strikes and flying at hypersonic speeds, which has been in the pipeline for years.
Developed through a long-standing partnership between India and Russia, the original BrahMos missile has already proven to be one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world.
It can hit targets at speeds up to Mach 3.5 and is used across the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The BrahMos has become a vital part of India’s defense with a range that varies from 290 km to 800 km depending on the version. It’s known for its speed, accuracy, and ability to hit targets from land, sea, air, and even submarines.
The goal is to build a missile that can travel at Mach 6 to Mach 8 and reach distances of up to 1,500 km. The next step, BrahMos-II (also called BrahMos Mark II or BrahMos-2K), aims to push those limits even further.
It will use a scramjet engine — a type of propulsion system that works best at hypersonic speeds and uses air from the atmosphere instead of carrying oxygen onboard, allowing it to fly faster and farther.
The idea for BrahMos-II was first brought up in 2008, and tests were supposed to begin by 2015. But several issues caused delays.
Upgrading it to nearly hypersonic speeds of Mach 5 using a more advanced ramjet engine, India instead focused on improving the original BrahMos — a less expensive option.
India has decided to take another look at the BrahMos-II project, but with countries like China, Russia, and the U.S. racing ahead in hypersonic missile development.
When India’s defense research agency DRDO successfully tested a scramjet, a key breakthrough came in April 2025, combustor for over 1,000 seconds which is a big step toward building homegrown hypersonic technology.
This success means India may no longer have to rely entirely on Russian tech.
The new scramjet engine, helping reduce foreign dependency and supporting India’s “Make in India” vision, could be used in the BrahMos-II, according to former DRDO chief Dr. Sudhir Kumar Mishra.
The final missile is expected to weigh around 1.33 tonnes, which is much lighter than the current air-launched BrahMos. That would allow it to be used with smaller fighter jets like the Indian-made Tejas.
Leading to a more balanced system, India now has the potential to mix in its own innovative co-developed weapon system that strengthens the country’s position in the global hypersonic arms race, while the new missile may still take some inspiration from Russia’s Zircon.
